Evaluation of diffusion of hydrocarbons with interface high-density polyethylene geomembrane in sandy and clay soils

Abstract

Geomembranes are polymeric materials commonly used for waterproofing in environmental works and civil engineering. In these works can occur contamination of soil and groundwater. This occurs by the fact that the designs are intended to store, process and/ or dispose substances and/or waste soil as in storage ponds and treatment of various types of industrial wastewater, mining waste deposits or cells. They can also be used in storage tanks of substances, air or underground in gas stations, for instance. In these, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (present in automotive fuels, gasoline and diesel) are part of an important class of contaminants in soils and groundwater. As the diffusion process controls the flow of gases and/or liquids, this project aims to study in laboratory diffusive process of high-density polyethylene geomembranes when in contact with hydrocarbons. Initially high-density polyethylene HDPE with thickness of 1 mm will be used. The waste will be aromatic hydrocarbons (gasoline and diesel). Two types of soils (sandy and clay) contaminated by the waste will be used. The evaluation of the diffusion is will be checked by gas chromatography.